Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As a result of those rent controls, we are seeing some limitations in rental inflation. Approximately 67% of rental properties in the country are in rent pressure zones. There are issues with regard to student accommodation which the Minister has agreed to examine in co-operation with Opposition parties. On the issue of family hubs, if memory serves me correctly, we have spent about €50 million on them so far. We have seen 300 people move out of hotels and into family hubs. While the hubs are not ideal accommodation, they are a significant improvement on what we had previously. Families now have a bit more dignity and privacy, can do their own washing and cooking and can behave as families should, together. They are in the hubs on a temporary basis while the State improves the throughput times for people moving from emergency accommodation into more permanent housing.

I do not believe that family hubs are a long-term solution but we were faced with a dramatic increase in homelessness over a very short space of time. The Government has had to respond to that in terms of dealing with people in very vulnerable circumstances . It takes time and significant sums of money, to which the Government has committed, to increase capacity within local authorities to deliver a significant, increased and accelerated social housing delivery programme. In the meantime, we have to deal with families and individuals. Unfortunately, for all sorts of reasons, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of people entering homelessness although one encouraging indicator in recent months is the reduction in the numbers presenting as homeless. This is an encouraging sign but we are far from being out of the woods in terms of solving this issue. It is a huge priority for the Government and will continue to be thus into the future.

The hidden homelessness campaign is a legitimate one but the NGOs involved are not suggesting that people who are in overcrowded conditions on a temporary basis should be categorised as homeless. That is not what they are suggesting. Their campaign is about raising awareness of the extent of overcrowding in Ireland. This is also a driver for the need for more and more social housing and a more balanced and affordable rental market, which is what the State is working on right now.

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